Here's an interesting example of the use of YouTube as both object and medium of study. YouTube is somehow seen as not serious but when I needed to figure out how to use a new video editing program, that's where I went. Here are a few other ways in which YouTube has been very helpful to me in just the last month:

• compared video reviews of competing products
• learned how to use a particular piece of software
• learned about different techniques used by users on search engines (from UC Berkley)
• saw an original performance of a piece of jazz music from the 1960s along with commentary by users

I'm coming to appreciate the serious potential of YouTube for self-directed learning more and more. Particularly when we see YouTube just as a shortcut for a whole class of video-hosting services .

Missing the Point : EMAC

YouTube is not only a legitimate object of study, but I will make the more radical claim that any media studies course which does not at least consider YouTube falls short.

... Commenting on YouTube is bad? Several of the criticisms of this course suggest that the problem is that the work is too easy all students have to do is produce videos and comment. But, what critics are missing is that this is actually the point. By contributing on YouTube students learn both the strengths and the limitations of YouTube (and clearly this is one of the goals as Juhasz points out in her opening lecture/video.) It isn’t as if this course is leisure studies 101—fun with YouTube.